The private sector added 163,000 jobs in July, according to the ADP report. Analysts had been expecting an increase of 120,000.

The Conference Board’s gauge of consumer confidence rose to 65.9 in July from 62.7 in June, better than the 61.5 economists expected.

The manufacturing sector in the U.S. Midwest expanded at a slightly swifter pace in July than it did the month before. The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago’s PMI gauge came in at 53.7, higher than expectations of 52.5 and a reading of 52.9 in June.

Home prices in 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas climbed 2.2% in May from the month before on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, according the S&P/Case-Shiller report. That came in stronger than the 1.5% gain economists expected.

Sales of existing homes rose 2.3% in July from June to an annualized rate of 4.47 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors.

U.S. pending home sales rose 2.4% in July from June, topping the 1% expected and hitting the highest level since April 2010. Sales were up 12.4% from a year ago.

U.S. housing starts jumped 6.9% in June from May to a 760,000-unit rate, topping estimates of a 745,000-unit rate and marking the highest rate since October 2008.

The Labor Department reported producer prices climbed 0.3% in July from June, the fastest pace in five months. Analysts expected an increase of 0.2%. Excluding the food and energy components, prices were up 0.4%, also more than the 0.2% increase forecast.

The Commerce Department reported that building permits rose 6.8% to a rate of 812,000, the highest level in four years.

Retail sales climbed 0.8% in July from June, the largest increase since February and a bigger gain than the 0.3% economists expected.

The consumer sentiment reading of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey showed consumer sentiment increased to 73.6 in early August from July’s final reading of 72.3. The August preliminary reading topped forecasts for an increase to 72.4 and marked the highest level since May.

Sales of new single-family homes rose 3.6% in July from June to an annualized rate of 372,000 units. Analysts were expecting an annualized rate of 365,000 units.

The broad S&P 500 struck its highest level since May 2008 on 21 Aug 12, while the Dow is sitting less than 60 points beneath its highest point since the end of 2007. Meanwhile, oil futures are jumping 1.5% as the U.S. dollar sinks to its lowest level since early July.

The Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing PMI rose to 51.9 in August from 51.4 in July, the first monthly increase in five months. Readings over 50 point to expansion while readings below 50 indicate contraction.

Orders for long-lasting U.S. goods rose 4.2% in July from June, blowing past estimates of a 2.4% increase. Excluding the transportation segment, orders were down 0.4%, missing estimates of a 0.5% gain.

A second reading on U.S. gross domestic product showed the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 1.7% in the second quarter, in line with economists’ estimates and faster than an initial estimate of 1.5%.

The S&P/Case-Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas shows home prices rose 2.3% in June from May on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, a bigger gain than the 1.6% expected. Prices were up 0.5% from the same period a year earlier in the first increase since September 2010.

Personal spending rose 0.4% in July from June, as expected, to the highest level since February. Personal income rose 0.3%, also as expected.

A final reading on consumer sentiment for the month of August checked in at 74.3, higher than a preliminary reading of 73.6, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan.

The ever expanding list of reasons as to why I can’t vote for Willard Mitt Romney because he:

31 Aug 12 – Continues to lie about President Obama’s record, spokes person said the campaign won’t be influenced by fact checking – meaning they’ll lie about whatever and whenever they choose.

Lied during his acceptance speech about President Obama saying he went on an apology tour after being inaugurated, cut $716 billion dollars from Medicare, raised taxes on the middle class and had thrown Israel under the bus.

But wait that’s not all, the President’s also beating Willard among Latinos, voters under 35 and women.

According to a Hart Research Survey poll conducted in Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada, women prefer President Obama to Romney 53% to 39%.
On top of that, 81% of the women said they were less likely to vote for Romney since he’s chosen Paul Ryan as a running mate, or that the choice made no difference to them at all.

The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll also shows the President has a commanding lead among Latino voters 63% to 28% over Romney.

So, can Willard Mitt Romney win the White House with no support among Black voters, 28% support among Latinos and 39% among women? Not likely, and the reinvention convention isn’t likely to give much of any bump to a campaign clearly lacking in likability.

With ten (10) weeks to go until the November election Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential wanna-be Willard Mitt Romney’s supposed to be receiving the accolades of the party faithful in Tampa, FL but instead the “reinvention convention’s” been delayed because of Hurricane Isaac, and he’s dealing with rumors New Jersey Gov Chris Christie was his first VP choice but turned it down because he believes Romney can’t win. Additionally, Romney’s having to confront the mess created by GOTP Senate candidates declaring no abortions under any circumstances, and woman can’t get pregnant from rape..

So, how does the GOTP candidate stand up against the President?

The last favorability CBS News poll of registered voters conducted from 22 – 26 Aug 12, showed the President with a 41% favorability rating compared to Romney’s 31%.

So, who’s more electable right now?

In the most recent viable’ national poll(s) – which are any group other than the Washington Times or Rasmussen (which are generally always skewed not just to the right, but far to the right) – the most recent CBS News poll of registered voters conducted from 22 – 26 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 46/Romney 45

The most recent Gallup Tracking poll of registered voters conducted 20 – 26 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 46/Romney 47

The most current ABC News/Wash Post poll of registered voters conducted from 22 – 25 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 46/Romney 47

The most current CNN/Opinion Research poll of likely voters conducted from 22 – 23 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 49/Romney 47

The most recent Associated Press/GfK poll of registered voters conducted 16 – 20 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 47/Romney 46

And finally, the most recent NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl poll of registered voters conducted 16 – 20 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 48/Romney 44

If the general election was held today, according to national polls, Willard Mitt Romney loses to President Obama in the general election, and according to state polls, if the General Election were held TODAY (note these are based on current poll numbers – not projections), the Electoral College totals based on all available current poll numbers the President defeats Romney 347/191:

Results of 10 consecutive simulations based on poll data as of 28 Aug 12

Obama 299/239
Obama 332/206
Obama 347/191
Obama 306/232
Obama 276/262

Obama 288/250
Obama 312/226
Obama 337/201
Obama 273/265
Obama 270/268

Of 10 simulations Romney wins zero as the President beats him most of the time by comfortable margins.

The simulations use cumulative polling data by state and are not based off of national polling data.